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TBC Constitution
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Having received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we band ourselves together as a body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and adopt for our government and plan of worship and service the following articles: 1.
Name 2.
Purpose 1.
Of the Scriptures 2.
Of God 3.
Of Man 4.
Of Christ 5.
Of Salvation 6.
Of Sanctification 7.
Of Assurance 8.
Of the Holy Spirit We believe that speaking in tongues is not a sign of either regeneration or sanctification, nor a necessary sign of the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. We further believe that speaking in tongues and the other authenticating signs of working miracles, such as divine healing, gradually faded as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 30; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; 1 Cor. 13:10; 1 Cor. 14:21 22; Mark 16:18 20; Heb. 2:4) NOTE: We are not saying by this that God does not now do miracles or heal people quite the contrary. What we are saying is that the spiritual gifts whereby men have the ability to do these are no longer operative in the church. We believe that God does respond to the prayers of His Saints to accomplish His will in this age. 9.
Of the Church 10.
Of the Christian Life 11.
Of the Ordinances 12.
Of the Angels 14.
Of the Second Coming 1.
Regular Services 2.
Annual Meetings 3.
Called Meetings TBC Members may call a congregational meeting (with the TBC Board of Elders in attendance) by a written petition of 20% of TBC Members at the time of the petitioning. 4.
Quorum 5.
Parliamentary Procedure In
business meetings, any parliamentary question not covered by this
constitution shall be decided by the latest edition of Robert's
Rules of Order. 1.
Congregation TBC encourages attendance at TBC events by persons who are not Members (referred to as Attendees) as long as such person's attendance is neither disruptive nor a hindrance to the ministries of TBC. The TBC Elder Board reserves the right to exclude any Attendee from any or all TBC events, if it deems that such action is warranted. 2. Reception
of Persons into TBC Membership Although it is not a necessary requirement for membership in the congregation, all persons declaring their intent to become a Member of TBC and who have not received the ordinance of water baptism are strongly urged to do so at the earliest opportunity in order to fulfill the biblically prescribed mode for the public expression of personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. An elder or staff member of TBC shall not be required to administer baptism in a form contrary to his own conviction. 3. Voting Rights 4. Termination of Membership By Transfer. Persons in good standing shall be granted, upon written request, a letter of recommendation to an evangelical church of their choice. By Dismissal. God's Word enjoins upon the church the duty of exercising discipline over its congregation. This is enforced as a positive command. (Matt. 18:15 17; Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 5:20) The Board of Elders may remove from the Congregation of TBC any Member who recants his previously expressed agreement with the doctrinal statement or evidences a lack of purpose in living a holy life. Such a person shall be first admonished by the elders of TBC. Then if after due admonition his position and/or actions remain unchanged, the Board of Elders may remove his name from TBC Membership. No name shall be removed without such intention being made known to said person in writing. Furthermore, such a person shall have the right of a hearing before the Board of Elders before his name is removed from Membership. 5. Restoration
1.
Spiritual Leadership Under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the government of TBC is vested in the Board of Elders. Under the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Board of Elders as a group as duly affirmed by the Congregation, is ultimately responsible for the oversight of all staff, ministries, operations, finances, planning and direction of TBC. The Board of Elders has the power to delegate to individuals or to committees or organizations the right to transact any of its business or to exercise any of its powers, but the exercise of such delegation shall be subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Elders. 2. Board of Elders Affirmation.
The Board of Elders shall be affirmed by the Congregation and consists
of a number of members determined by the Board of Elders itself.
Each elder shall serve a term of three years, unless otherwise specified
when he is elected. If an elder maintains qualification and desires
to continue to serve in that office, he must be reaffirmed by the
Congregation at the end of each term of service. An elder candidate
will be deemed affirmed when no biblically disqualifying objection
can be substantiated. If in the affirmation process, biblically
disqualifying information becomes substantiated, the elder candidate
will be withdrawn by the Nominating Committee. 3. Senior Pastor Affirmation. A Senior Pastor shall be affirmed by vote of the Congregation and shall continue in office as long as he and the Congregation agree to continue the relationship. Upon resignation or dismissal of a Senior Pastor, a pulpit committee shall be formed (Article VI, Section 3), to seek a suitable leader to be presented to the Congregation for its consideration. The call or dismissal of the Senior Pastor shall come from the Congregation at a regularly called business meeting, notice of such meeting and its purpose having been given from the pulpit on two consecutive Sundays. A three fourths vote by written secret ballot of the voting Congregation present at such meeting shall be necessary either to call or to dismiss a Senior Pastor. In regard to dismissal, the Board of Elders must be in unanimous agreement (with the exception of the Senior Pastor) before such action is brought before the Congregation. Duties. The Senior Pastor shall be an elder of TBC and will be held accountable to the job description established by the Board of Elders at the time of his hiring or as revised by mutual agreement at a later date. Included in these duties will be devoting himself to the study and exposition of the Word of God, supervising the administration of the ordinances, and with the other elders, provide pastoral oversight to TBC. The Senior Pastor may act as an ex-officio member of the organizations and committees of the church and shall suggest appointment of such committees as may be considered necessary. 4. Paid Ministry
Staff 5. Deacons Affirmation Deacons shall be affirmed by the Congregation at the May Congregational Meeting. Deacon affirmation shall be for a period of three (3) years unless otherwise specified. If a deacon maintains qualification and desires to continue to serve in that ministry leadership role, the deacon must be reaffirmed by the Congregation at the end of each term of service. Duties. Deacons are appointed by the elders and then affirmed by the Congregation at the May Congregational Meeting. Mid-year vacancies may be filled by the staff member in authority over them with the approval of the elders. Deacons appointed mid-year will be affirmed at the next May Congregational Meeting. Deacons exercise delegated leadership authority and responsibility over specifically assigned ministries. Deacons shall be men who have been a Member of TBC for at least one year and meet the qualifications found in 1 Tim. 3:8-13. Those ministry roles requiring deacon-qualified leaders will be reviewed and designated annually by the elders. Trustees. Three of the deacons, to be chosen by the elders, will serve as trustees of TBC. At the direction of the elders, the trustees shall execute such legal documents as may be necessary to purchase property, or in any other matter that may require the legal binding of TBC in contractual dealings. Treasurer of the Church. One of the deacons, to be chosen by the elders, will serve as the Treasurer of TBC. The Treasurer shall serve as chairman of the Finance Committee (Article VI, Section 1). The Treasurer shall ensure that all monies received and disbursed by TBC are handled in a manner that is above reproach taking care to guard those handling the money from unnecessary temptation and unwarranted accusation. In addition, the Treasurer shall have oversight of periodic financial audits as authorized by the Board of Elders, and in accordance with the duties of the Finance Committee, will represent the Finance Committee in other ministry areas commissioned to evaluate and recommend strategic church wide efforts. 6. Other Ministry
Positions 1. Finance Committee Membership. The Finance Committee shall include the Treasurer of TBC and other deacons or staff, as recommended by the Senior Pastor with approval of the Board of Elders. Duties. The Finance Committee shall meet as needed to address TBC financial needs. The Finance Committee will prepare the annual budget for approval by the Board of Elders. 2. Nominating Committee Membership. The Nominating Committee shall consist of seven (7) individuals including the Senior Pastor, two (2) elders selected by the Board of Elders, two (2) deacons selected by the Board of Elders, and two (2) members of the Congregation, elected by the Congregation at the May Congregational Meeting. The Senior Pastor will serve as chairman. Duties. The Nominating Committee shall screen potential candidates for the position of elder or deacon to be presented at the May Congregational Meeting for affirmation by the Congregation. Term of Office. The members of this committee (except the Senior Pastor) shall begin their term of office at the May Congregational Meeting and shall serve until the May Congregational Meeting the following year. Once a candidate has been interviewed by the Nominating Committee a simple majority vote of the Nominating Committee will qualify an individual as a candidate. A list of candidates shall be posted at least two (2) weeks before the May Congregational Meeting. The Nominating Committee shall bring before the Congregation the names of those whom they deem qualified to serve. No other candidates shall be considered at the time of affirmation. Affirmations shall be by secret ballot. 3. Pulpit Committee Membership. The Pulpit Committee shall be formed as follows: three (3) representatives of the Board of Elders, two (2) deacons selected by the Board of Elders, and two (2) representatives elected by the Congregation. The Chairman of the Pulpit Committee shall be one of the elders. Term of Office. When a Senior Pastor resigns or is dismissed by the Congregation, a seven member Pulpit Committee shall be formed. This committee shall function until a new Senior Pastor has come to serve TBC. Duties. The committee shall seek a suitable leader to be presented first to the Board of Elders, and then to the Congregation for its consideration as provided in Article V, Section 3. A majority of the committee must be in agreement before a candidate is presented to the Board of Elders. The candidate must have the majority approval of the Board of Elders before he can be submitted to the Congregation. 1.
Application 2. Ordination Council - If the Board of Elders feels that the applicant should be considered for ordination by TBC to the gospel ministry, the Board may ask the Senior Pastor to call an ordination council which shall thoroughly examine the candidate as to his call to the ministry, education, Christian experience and doctrinal belief. The candidate shall be publicly ordained to the gospel ministry upon the recommendation of this council.
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